The player who has inspired the Union College men's lacrosse team all season plans to be on the sideline on Wednesday when the Dutchmen face their biggest challenge of the year.

It's still nothing compared to what senior midfielder Nate Greenberg has been through.

Greenberg, being treated for a rare form of cancer, is expected to be in attendance when Union (15-3) faces top-ranked Rochester Institute of Technology (19-0) in an NCAA Division III quarterfinal in Rochester at 4 p.m. The Dutchmen are aiming for their first trip to the national semifinals.

"I've been going to the games, trying to make almost every game I can," Greenberg said. "It's unbelievable just to be together and they're playing for me. And they're having such a successful year, it's been unbelievable."

Greenberg was diagnosed last September with Ewing's sarcoma, a type of bone cancer that mainly affects children and adolescents. Suffering from hip and back pain, Greenberg said at first he didn't grasp the gravity of the situation when doctors broke the news to him.

"I think one of the first things I said is, 'Am I going to be good for the season?'" he recalled. "I kind of felt like I was just going to beat it. ... Little did I know what I had in store for me."

Union junior goalkeeper Stefan Basile said his team has drawn motivation from Greenberg's battle.

"That kind of brought the team a lot closer together, kind of made us a family," Basile said. "It's helped us persevere through a lot this year."

Greenberg has undergone 11 cycles of chemotherapy with two more to go. He underwent hip replacement surgery that ended his lacrosse career.

He said he misses the sport "like crazy." He felt primed for a big year after making second-team all-Liberty League as a junior who was second on the team with 17 goals.

Roaming the sidelines as a sort of coach is the next best thing.

"Their energy kind of gives me a little boost, for sure," Greenberg said. "It definitely was tough not being able to play, but just being around the guys, they're my best friends in the whole world. Just having them around helps me."

Greenberg said his latest bone scans were very encouraging and he plans to return to Union in the fall to finish his final year of college.

"I've started getting my life back," he said.

Union coach Paul Wehrum said the Dutchmen had a difficult time replacing Greenberg, a preseason All-American, a team captain and the program's leading returning scorer.

"Losing him was a devastating blow on the field, Wehrum said. "What Nate has is a unique ability to always be positive and upbeat. I'm not as positive and upbeat as Nate is."

Greenberg is scheduled to catch a flight from Westchester County Airport that will land in Rochester at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Then he'll root on Union against an RIT program that is 6-0 against the Dutchmen over the past three seasons.